Mt. Hood Lodge No. 32 met on April 13th at the Barberton Grange for our Stated Communication on the 2nd Degree. It was a memorable evening filled with brotherly fellowship and meaningful discussions and a generous show of support for our Random Act of Kindness fund. The evening began with our traditional half-hour of fellowship, where we had the opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones. It’s always a pleasure to connect with our brethren in a relaxed and friendly setting before our formal proceedings.
Historically, our meetings started at 6:30 PM with dinner, followed by a tiled meeting. However, this year we decided to move our meeting time to 6:00 PM to allow for more opportunities to connect and build relationships with our fellow brethren. And the response was overwhelming! Our parking lot quickly filled to capacity, and the room was buzzing with a dozen conversations spanning the entire spectrum of the human experience.
A special thank you to our friends at Henry Wentworth Chapter #250 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Washington for providing us with an exceptional spread. The lasagna, seasoned garlic bread, green salad, and three-flavor ice cream were truly delectable, and our taste buds were kept busy throughout the meal. During this members showed their generosity by donating a total of $212 towards our Random Act of Kindness fund. Your contributions will go a long way in supporting our charitable efforts and making a positive impact in our community.
At the meal, we were treated to an educational presentation by Br. Alex B. on Plato and his nine life lessons, as well as a teaser about the Allegory of the Cave and its allusions to Masonry. It was an insightful and thought-provoking presentation that sparked stimulating discussions among our members.
As the Brethren entered the hall for our meeting, they were greeted with a thought-provoking quote from MW Desagulier: “All the knowledge we have of nature depends upon facts; for without observations and experiments, our natural philosophy would only be a science of terms and an unintelligible jargon.” It set the tone for the evening, emphasizing the importance of observation and experimentation in our pursuit of knowledge.”
The Lodge was then opened on the Fellowcraft Degree, immediately after which Br. Justin G. rose to show some of his proficiency on the 2nd Degree. First, he fielded questions from the New Candidate Educational Program from multiple Lodge Officers, showcasing his depth of understanding and dedication to Masonic education. Br. Justin then provided a brief yet insightful interpretation of the 2nd Degree of Masonry, enriching our understanding of its symbolism and teachings.
We then called down to the 1st Degree and invited the Entered Apprentices into the Lodge for the rest of our program. As they were waiting outside, they were given a question to answer: “When should an Entered Apprentice be considered proficient?”
During Introductions, Mt. Hood Lodge No. 32 welcomed Brothers from Silver Star, Washington, and North Bank Lodges, fostering fraternal bonds and connections beyond our own Lodge. A Master’s Message was then delivered, discussing the recent communication from the Grand Master about plain text and the Masonic Offense associated with mishandling. We delved into the concept of Masonic Offenses, reviewing the four different sources that may label something as an offense, as prescribed in Section 1.05 of the code.
VW David D. provided updates on our Lodge Communications and delivered the Treasurer’s report. It is vital to keep our members informed and engaged in the administrative aspects of our Lodge, and we appreciate VW David D.’s dedication to fulfilling this responsibility.
Proficiency reports during our recent stated meeting were overwhelmingly positive. Brothers Will C., David H., and Ian R. are all making excellent progress in their Masonic journey, and we congratulate them on their dedication and commitment to furthering their knowledge and understanding of our Craft. We are also excited to hear that Brother Mark P. is ready to give his answers and presentations at our upcoming meeting, and we look forward to witnessing his proficiency.
During our meeting, we also took the time to share updates on Joy, Sickness, and Distress among our brethren. It was heartwarming to hear of the positive news regarding WB Ron B.’s hospice care, and we encourage our brothers to visit him at his home to provide comfort and support. We also send our best wishes to WB Art L. as he continues his treatments, and we are glad to hear that he is maintaining his involvement in the fraternity. Additionally, we congratulate Brother Ian R. on the pending purchase of his first home, and we wish him all the best in this new chapter of his life.
During our recent stated meeting, we had the pleasure of hearing from Brothers Mark P. and Ian R., who presented their findings on the question, “When should an Entered Apprentice be considered proficient?” Their insights were thought-provoking and provided a fresh perspective on the journey of progressing through the Degrees of Masonry. It is through such thoughtful discussions and shared perspectives that we continue to enhance our understanding and appreciation of our beloved Craft. We are proud of the dedication and effort that our Brothers put into their Masonic education, and we are grateful for their contributions to our Lodge’s intellectual discourse.
We then had a thought-provoking discussion on “The Power of a Pause” as part of our recurring Ritual Rhetoric segment. We explored how the delivery and timing of our ritual can greatly impact its effectiveness, and how the use of theatrical techniques can enhance our performance.
While we are required to recite the ritual correctly, we also discussed the freedom we have in how we deliver it, and how taking pauses at strategic moments can create a more impactful and meaningful experience for ourselves and our candidates. We encouraged Brothers to study theatrical techniques and practice their delivery to elevate the quality of our ritual work.
In the Old Business section of our meeting, we discussed our recent 5th Thursday Fun Night event, where we rented out a movie theater for a private viewing of the new Dungeons and Dragons movie. We were pleased to have about thirty youths and thirty adults in attendance, and the event was able to cover its own expenses, making it a successful and enjoyable evening of fellowship.
Several announcements were made during our New Business section. We informed the brethren that our new Lodge polo shirts are now available for Master Masons to purchase, and we shared details about our upcoming ladies’ event in May, as well as the upcoming ‘Leo Taxil Table Lodge’ Special Meeting.
One of the highlights of the evening was the insightful presentation given by VW Gordon J. about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) and the remarkable progress this non-profit organization has made in improving the lives of individuals with this disease. The presentation touched the hearts of our brethren, and we were inspired by the work being done by CFF.
After much discussion, the Lodge moved to make a donation to CFF in our usual generous manner, with the intention to donate $1 more than Washington Lodge NO.4 had donated. However, we were surprised by Washington Lodge’s recent Stated Meeting where they voted to donate $432. This unexpected development sparked further discussion in our Lodge. In the end, we decided to match Washington Lodge’s donation of $432, and we added 32 cents to our donation as a sign of our commitment to supporting this worthy cause. It is through such acts of charity and generosity that we uphold the principles of Freemasonry and make a positive impact in our communities.
Near the end of the meeting, we caught Brothers up “In Case You Missed It”. First and foremost, we congratulated Br. Max M. on his recent raising to the Sublime Degree, marking an important milestone in his Masonic journey. We also recapped the recent Lodge Leadership Retreat, where our brethren had the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and exchange ideas to strengthen our Lodge’s leadership. Furthermore, we acknowledged the participation of Mt. Hood Lodge in the Officer Installation of OES Henry Wentworth, showing our continued support for our affiliated organizations. We also recognized WB Matt T. and WB Will L. for their generosity in giving free ‘lessons’ to the Vancouver DeMolay boys during their recent laser tag fun night.
Additionally, we expressed our appreciation to VW Ric B. for hosting the recent District Retreat, which featured informative presentations by VW Mark S. on Masonic Funerals and WB Will L. on Ritual History. The highlight of the District Retreat was the thrilling game of Masonic Jeopardy hosted by VW Gordon J., where Br. Tim H. and Br. Sage B. emerged as the dominant competitors. During the event, WB Will L. was presented with the Cecil Tackett award for his contributions to the District, and he was then given the evening RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) funds to be used within the community.
Near the end of our meeting, several announcements were made during Good of the Order, we discussed upcoming events in our Masonic community. This includes the Job’s Daughters spaghetti feed, North Bank’s Western Night, and Washington Lodge’s upcoming dual Fellowcraft Degrees on April 20th. After which, WB Todd E. announced the post-meeting beverage and let the Lodge in a thought exercise that brought us all to the misty coasts of Scotland. After excusing our Entered Apprentices, the Lodge proceeded to close ending with all Brothers hand-in-hand, peace and harmony prevailing.